Jedd Wolchok is interviewed by a news crew at the 50th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.

Over the past several days, Memorial Sloan Kettering experts shared their perspectives with major media outlets about updated research on the success of drug-based immunotherapy for treating advanced melanoma and new findings revealing the potential of cell-based immunotherapy in treating advanced cervical cancer.

In television and print interviews, they commented on several studies reported this past weekend at the 50th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) – one of the largest educational and scientific events in the international oncology community.

Drug-Based Immunotherapy in Advanced Melanoma

New data out of ASCO shows that the effects of drug-based immunotherapy can sometimes last for years in patients who were treated for advanced melanoma.

“With immunotherapy, you're treating the patient, and the patient is treating the cancer. “

-Jedd Wolchok, Chief of our Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Service

When discussing the clinical trials with The Wall Street Journal, he commented, “This field has spent several decades figuring out better ways to treat the cancer, and very important accomplishments have been made. We now have a way to treat the patient as well. With immunotherapy, you're treating the patient, and the patient is treating the cancer.”

“It’s a completely different world for patients with metastatic melanoma, to talk about the majority of patients being alive for years rather than weeks or months,” Dr. Wolchok added in an interview with the New York Times.

And researchers are hopeful that melanoma is only the first cancer to be successfully treated as a result of research in this growing field. In fact, Memorial Sloan Kettering investigators presented early research that various drug-based immunotherapy agents appear safe and active in several other cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer, kidney cancer, breast cancer, and other solid tumors.

Dr. Wolchok told Forbes.com that the results presented this year reinforce “the idea that immunotherapy is not a treatment for just one or two diseases, it can be applied in numerous diseases.”

Cell-Based Immunotherapy in Advanced Cervical Cancer

Another new immunotherapy study presented this year involved adoptive T cell therapy for advanced cervical cancer caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Researchers at the National Cancer Institute took tumor samples from nine women with advanced cervical cancer and extracted T cells that target the HPV virus. They multiplied the T cells in the lab, and then injected billions of them back into the women. In one woman, the tumor shrank significantly; two of the women are now cancer-free.

“Our T cells keep us alive every day. They protect us from invaders. Invaders could be viruses, bacteria, parasites, and we don't realize that they play also a big role in fighting off cancer cells,” Dr. Sadelain explained further in a story on NBCnews.com.

“We can't call it a cure yet. We need time, but complete remission means complete disappearance of the tumor,” he added in an interview with WABC-TV.

I was diagnose with stage 4 gastric cancer, I went for surgery to remove the stomach, she went in with camera, but decided to open mi up, but couldn't operate, told me that I will have to go for four circles of chimo, a week ago was my last one, and before doing a PET Scan, the told me, I have to go for two more circles, just to me elegible for a new medicine, I do not feel like I am being treated Farely and truthfully, does the new immunotherapy can work in my case, I am already, getting documentation to transfer to Memorial hospital.

Jose, thank you for reaching out. You mentioned that you are gathering documentation but in the meantime, please call our Physician Referral Service at 800-525-2225 or go to http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/appointment. They will be able to tell you more about possible treatment for your cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering.

Submitted by Huy Nguyen | Tuesday, June 10, 2014 - 7:03 PM.

My cousin has epithelioid sarcoma that has recently metastasized to her lungs. Two nodules were resected from her lungs but the thoracic surgeon had made remarks that some sort of residual findings (which turned out to be sarcoma) did not look promising and that chemotherapy may be the next step in her treatment. Not quite sure of what her sarcoma will say to her once they meet. I'm also not sure of chemotherapies effectiveness in treatment this specific type of cancer. Are there any soft tissue sarcoma that has metastasized to the lungs clinical trials?

If your cousin would like to make an appointment with a Memorial Sloan Kettering physician, please call our Physician Referral Service at 800-525-2225 or go to http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/appointment. Thanks for your comment.

Submitted by Amy | Monday, June 30, 2014 - 12:05 PM.

Hello, my husband has metastatic kidney cancer and underwent a complete right nephrectomy. For the past 5 years the reoccurrences have been able to be removed with surgery, tumor in right kidney area, left adrenal gland, left neck. Now he has a suspicious tumor on his liver we are getting follow up next month. Do you have any clinical trials for immunotherapy that would be relevant to our situation. I'm afraid we won't be able to cherry pick with these surgeries forever and chemotherapy, radiation doesn't seem to have good outcomes for kidney cancer.

Amy, we currently have several trials evaluating various immune therapies in kidney cancer. If you'd like to learn more about them, you can call 800-525-2225 or go to http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/appointment for more information on making an appointment. Thank you for your comment.

Submitted by Jim White | Monday, June 30, 2014 - 1:17 PM.

I have a relative diagnosed with a Stage 4 Glioblastoma in the frontal lobe. He had the surgery 2 weeks ago by a renowned surgeon and, while the surgery and recovery went well, the prognosis is (statistically) not optimistic. The patient is in otherwise excellent health (very athletic) so we, like so many others, are struggling with the quest for viable alternatives that can either stop this highly aggressive cancer in its tracks, or present the potential of a longer-term recovery.

How big of deal was it last week when the Phase III trial of nivolumab was closed down due to good results enabling the patients on the chemotherapy arm to cross over and receive nivolumab?
Also, I have read that the PD-1 therapies work better when there is PD-L1 expression. How much of an impact does that have, and is it true that PD-L1 changes depending upon inflammation.
Noted, also, is that Sloan Kettering was a part of this trial. Good work to all involved.

Nannette, we currently have a few trials evaluating various immune therapies
in ovarian cancer. You can find a list here: http://bit.ly/1sS6x0s If you'd like to learn more about them, you can call 800-525-2225 or go to http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/appointment for more information on making an appointment. Thank you for your comment.

Submitted by Bonnie | Monday, June 30, 2014 - 4:49 PM.

I'm hoping this is good news for anal (hpv) cancer as well. I have been struggling with this for nearly 5years, have had the maximum radiation, cyberknife, abdominal resection, and various chemotherapies. Twice I have been declared cancer-free, only to have it re-appear-luckily in the original area - no distant metastasis. Is this immunotherapy applicable ?

Bonnie, thank you for your comment. There appears to be a clinical trial using immunotherapy for HPV-associated anal cancer being conducted by the National Cancer Institute. You can learn more at this link:

Do you have any clinical trials for cholangiocarcinoma stage IV (lung) that has responded moderately to oxalaplatin + 5 FU. However sensory neuropathy is occurring.
Is immunotherapy or targeted therapy available? Who in the GI department would be the doctors to see for cc cancer opinion?

John, we currently have two trials for cholangiocarcinoma. You can find more information here: http://bit.ly/1ww9xBF. If you'd like to make an appointment to speak with one of our GI experts, please call our Physician Referral Service at 800-525-2225 or go to http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/appointment for more information. Thank you for your comment.

Submitted by Cathy Bergman | Tuesday, September 2, 2014 - 6:42 PM.

My husband has bile duct cancer. It has spread to his lung. Is there an immunotherapy trial that could help hm??

Cathy, thank you for reaching out. While there do not appear to be any immunotherapy trials currently at MSK for bile duct cancer, we recommend you call the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service at 800-4CANCER (800-422-6237) to learn about possible clinical trials elsewhere. To learn more about the CIS, including Live Chat help and how to send them an email message, go to http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/cis/page3.

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We welcome your questions and comments. Because this is a public forum, please do not include contact information or other personal details. Also, keep in mind that while we can provide general information and resources, we cannot offer personal medical advice. To make an appointment with one of our experts, contact our Physician Referral Service at 800-525-2225 or online.